Snow-filled mountains mean super summer
Ray Grass
Assuming the snow doesn't turn to water too quickly, what was a great winter will help to make this a great summer for outdoor enthusiasts.
Reservoirs will be full, most of them, anyway; lawns will get watered, rivers will return to steady flows, fish will have wider areas to swim and animals will be able to dine on an abundance of forest growth.
It's certain that many of the reservoirs that failed to fill last year will be full this summer, which is good news for the fishermen and boaters.
When reservoirs are low, new vegetation grows between the waterline and high-mark. This new growth is a haven for young fish, a place where they can hang out and hide from the larger fish interested in making them a meal.
This means a higher survival rate, which translates to more fish being able to grow up to become big fish.
It's also a benefit to fishermen because they know this, and they know that the bigger fish come in to cruise the shallows in hopes of catching a smaller fish venturing too far from cover.
With respect to boating, reservoirs have progressively shrunk over the past few summers, which has made boating space a real premium, not to mention the fact that some waters were lost because launch ramps ended short of the water.
This is especially good news for Lake Powell boaters. Launching was a big problem last year as the summer waned. This year launching boats shouldn't be a problem.
When the level comes up just one-tenth what is expected between now and July, which is some 45 feet, most of the ramps, with the exception of Hite and Antelope Point, will be usable.
This means there will be two ramps at Wahweap — the regular Wahweap ramp and the Stateline ramp — that will be open for the busy Memorial Day traffic, and two at Bullfrog — the main ramp and the new ramp located west of the Bullfrog store.
The high water year will also make for great river rafting, whether by tubing sections of the Provo River or running whitewater through Cataract on the Colorado River.
With the good snowfall in Colorado, the Colorado River will be running high, especially during peak runoff months of May and June. The high runoffs, besides offering a great ride, will also help clean and scour beaches along popular stretches.
The wet fall and heavy snow has also put more moisture back into the soil, which means this year's crop of food for wildlife will be good, more berries for the bears, grasses for the elk and forbs for the deer.
This also means the likelihood of a better survival rate for the young animals coming into the world this spring.
And, with greener mountains it will mean less chance of fire restrictions in some of the more popular camping areas.
More water will also be a benefit to Utah's fish hatcheries. They need flowing water to raise fish. The more water, the more fish they can raise and release.
Golf courses will be able to return to regular watering schedules, which will translate into greener greens.
And, come May, be sure to take a ride into the backcountry to enjoy what is certain to be one of the more spectacular spring flower shows on record.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
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